Sunday June 7, 2009, 6:20 pm
Subject: Equality for all Americans

Dear President Obama,

Full citizenship rights should not be dependent and contingent upon one’s sexual orientation. American history has chronicled the painful and unjust suffering of women (gender discrimination), Native Americans and African-Americans (race discrimination). The plight of gay Americans centers around sexual orientation. Gay Americans have been a part of a minority group disenfranchised from full citizenship ever since the founding of this nation. Legal, religious, and social roadblocks and detours have always stood in their way when, like women and African-Americans, they challenge the white male/heterosexual status-quo. Indeed, America needs to erase the last remnants of apartheid that plague the our nation.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently stated, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.” All Americans regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation should be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Just as America defaulted on its “ promissory note ” with African-Americans, it continues to default on its “ promissory note ” to gay Americans. And instead of honoring this “ promissory note,” the US government simply writes “ bad checks ” to gay Americans, and these checks always come back with “insufficient funds” stamped on them. Still, gay Americans endure this inequality even as we pay our taxes which are then used to subsidize the full citizenship of their straight neighbors who live on Main Street USA.

Mr. Obama, I urge you to make gay rights an important issue in your first year in office. I understand that often it takes another minority person to recognize the needs and injustices faced by others who live across town, not on Main Street, USA. Until that time arrives, gay Americans will continue to be creative and productive tax-paying citizens of this nation, serve in the United States armed forces, and even die for their country if need be. There should not be any distinction between gay or straight Americans. There should only be Americans, Mr. Obama. And just as women and African-Americans finally secured their full citizenship rights through amendments to the US Constitution, gay Americans should, too. I trust that you will do everything in your power to facilitate and expedite this process.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sunday June 7, 2009, 6:39 pm
Signed and noted. Hopefully full change will come soon.

Sunday June 7, 2009, 7:51 pm
Signed,#38 and noted with thanks Tom.

Thank you for signing the petition "Equality for all Americans"

Sunday June 7, 2009, 11:03 pm
:-SIGNED PLEDGE MOST WILLINGLY:-)
TX DEAR TOM

Sunday June 7, 2009, 11:57 pm
noted, already signed.

Monday June 8, 2009, 12:04 am
Pledged, noted ans signed too , Thanks Tom !!

Monday June 8, 2009, 3:15 am
Noted & signed. Thanks

Monday June 8, 2009, 4:34 am
Done--thanks Tom!

Monday June 8, 2009, 4:37 am
Noted and going to sign now..Thank you Tom!

Monday June 8, 2009, 6:57 am
Thank you Tom!!! ☺
Noted and signed.
Hugs!

Monday June 8, 2009, 7:55 am
Thanks for Signing!Thank you, Tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 7:56 am
siigned and notrd it tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 8:31 am
signed

Monday June 8, 2009, 9:32 am
Noted and signed with many thanks Tom.

Monday June 8, 2009, 11:18 am
signed thanks tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 12:40 pm
noted...signed and forwarded....thanks Tom.

Monday June 8, 2009, 2:07 pm
Not only citizens but FOREIGNERS in general deserve due respect. After all,they are human beings, just like us. The U.S. is gaining a bad international name as it is becoming a country in which foreigners [even legal alliens] are discriminated upon. Restoring the Good Name of the U.S. is everybody's responsability.

Monday June 8, 2009, 2:26 pm
Signed Thanks Tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 2:46 pm
in the meantime, what portion of my taxes may i refrain from paying in exchange for the rights i give up as a gay american?

Monday June 8, 2009, 4:46 pm
signed thank you

Monday June 8, 2009, 7:50 pm
Signed and noted. Thank you.

Tuesday June 9, 2009, 10:16 pm
Thank you for signing the petition "Equality for all Americans" , thanks Tom